Victoria's Journal, Dieting Subsection

Milestones

December 2006
Dec 07: "Starting weight" = 245 lbs. &rarr Weight-loss graph
January 2007
Jan 14: 5 weeks: 228.0 lbs.
February 2007
Feb 16: 9 weeks: 210.25 lbs.
March 2007
Mar 17: 13 weeks: <200 lbs.! (199.25 lbs.)
April 2007
Apr 03: Approaching 190 lbs &rarr Decided to 'stop' at 190 lbs.
June 2007
Jun 02: Stably at ~190 lbs. (early May - present = 1 month)

Latest Entries ...

DECEMBER 2006

• Thursday December 07, 2006: I was weighed at my family physician's office, today (the same day that I revealed myself as being 'trans' to him - refer here) - I weighed 245 lbs.!

• Friday December 22, 2006: For more than a year now, I have been trying to lose some extra pounds around my mid-section, that have been stubbornly difficult to shed, despite 45 minutes of daily aerobic exercise, some weight training (though not lately), and consuming what I thought was a quite reasonable diet. (Ironically, with regard to my present situation, I had weight trained for many years. However, despite the fat-burning qualities of load-bearing exercise, in an effort to 'de-bulk' and slim down, I am going to cease weight training.) I thought that I might have hypothyroidism, but my blood work results (glucose; thyroid) from my recent doctor's visit (above) were in the normal range. Therefore, it is a simple matter, I believe, of eating slightly too many calories.

  Although I haven't been using it, I'll mention that FitDay.com has a free online resource that appears to be very good (you need to register, but that's all - no nagging follow-up emails, etc.). At this website, you can specify your sex, age, weight, and select (drop-down menus) physical activities and food items and servings to obtain calculations of your daily calorie intake, energy expenditure, and much more. I've decided to try and drop some weight - as much as possible: I was relatively 'slender' when I met my wife - so we have been reading the labels (calories etc.) on our food packaging, reducing portion sizes, and generally being more selective regarding food choices

• Sunday December 31, 2006: We purchased a digital electronic scale, so that we can begin weighing food portions, rather than guessing what constitutes a serving size. So far, the results are rather surprising, as we are also reading the labels more carefully (total calories, calories from fat, trans fat content, etc.), and although we are careful about what we eat, it's clear that perhaps we are consuming a few too many calories daily (on average), thus contributing (for me especially) my weight "plateau" despite 45 min. of daily aerobic exercise! As an example, fruitcake contains ~400 cal per 136 gram serving, and 136 grams is a very small portion size! Ack!! My wife adds the comment that typical (real-life) portions are "airline-sized" portions; I'm afraid that she is probably correct!

JANUARY 2007

• Thursday January 04, 2007: My wife and I have been sticking to our diets (weighed portions plus daily exercise), and both of us are definitely losing weight (~0.4 lbs./day, for me)!! :-) :-)

• Wednesday January 10, 2007: My weight loss is continuing, and has accelerated slightly, to 0.6 lbs./day!. However, as I am fairly 'large' (big but proportionate), this is equivalent to losing a fraction of a percentage point bodyweight per day, for a total of slightly more than 1% per week. Nevertheless, the rate of loss is significant and most welcome. Since I am essentially on a dietary restricted diet, however, it's important to maintain necessary levels of trace elements. Accordingly, in addition to the vitamin C, coated aspirin and "Tums" tablets that I take daily, I have also added two large complete multivitamins, daily.

• Sunday January 14, 2007: I'm down to 228.0 lbs. today! During each of the past 4-day periods, I have been losing precisely 0.625 lbs./day!!   :-)   Despite over-nighting in Greensboro, 'Sunshine' and I ensured that we got our aerobic exercise, both yesterday and today.

• Wednesday January 17 - Thursday January 18, 2007: Ack!! 228.5 lbs. yesterday and today, mucking up my very pretty graph (link above)!! (sob) I think I know what's going on, though ... As I mentioned previously, I spent much of last year trying to lose weight (aerobic training daily, but not really paying attention to diet) and had been at a 'plateau,' not really losing weight (or perhaps a pound or two monthly?). After we started weighing portions, the weight started dropping. Well, during the last couple of nights I was complaining that 'Sunshine' was feeding me too much at suppertime (I'm spoiled rotten, don'tcha, know ;-), and I believe that my body instantly ajdusted it's metabolism, signaling that it was getting ample calories and thus switching it's metabolism from fat-burning to 'maintenance' of bodyweight! We'll see if this theory is true, shortly, as we recognize this possible cause-and-effect and react, accordingly! ;-)

• Friday January 19 - Sunday January 21, 2007: After watching our diets somewhat more scrupulously over the past couple of days, tonight I was down to 226.25 lbs. on Jan. 19, 225.4 lbs. on Jan. 20, and 223.75 lbs. on Jan. 21! I obviously didn't drop 2.25 lbs. in one day (Jan. 18-19) I hope - too sudden - and the scales in our gym, although older, are the same ones that you see in doctors' offices and appear to be working well, so I am waiting to see if the recent measurements were an anomaly due to one thing or another! As always, I consider everything in the longer-term 'big picture,' rather than focusing in too closely at one thing or another out-of-context!   :-)

FEBRUARY 2007

• Friday January 26, 2007: Down to 221.3 lbs., today! At this (steady) rate, I am currently losing 10 lbs. every 17 days! :-)

• Friday February 02, 2007: 218.0 lbs., today!

• Saturday February 10, 2007: 214.5 lbs., today!

• Friday February 16, 2007: Whoo-hoo!! After 9 weeks (Dec. 07, 2006 - Feb. 16, 2007), 245 ===> 210.25 lbs., today (avg. weight loss ~3.9 lbs./week)!!   :-)

• Saturday February 24, 2007: 207.0 lbs., today!

• Wednesday February 28, 2007: Some daily fluctuations (see graph, here), but 206.25 lbs., today! :-)

MARCH 2007

• Wednesday March 07, 2007: Whoo-hoo!!   I just finished my workout and weighed myself: 205.2 lbs., down 40 lbs. from December 07, 2006!   :-)   ... Here is my most recent Weight Loss Plot (Graph)!

• Friday March 09, 2007: 203.9 lbs.!!

• Monday March 12, 2007: 204.50 lbs.

• Tuesday March 13, 2007: 203.15 lbs.

• Saturday March 17, 2007: It's Saturday (St. Patrick's Day!)... After a late, light breakfast (home-made cinnamon muffin; scrambled eggs, two strips bacon, orange juice, coffee) and an early-afternoon workout (prior to lunch), I finally broke the 200-ln. mark:
  199.25 lbs.!!

  Click here to see my Diet Weight Loss Graph. In case you think I'm suffering (down 46 lbs. in ~3.3 months), I feel *great*, and just had a nice thick (fresh) lobster sandwich for lunch!   ;-)

• Saturday, March 24, 2007 (3:45 pm) It's Saturday again, and after another very late (around noon), light breakfast (home-made cinnamon muffin; scrambled eggs, two strips bacon, orange juice, coffee) and after 45' elliptical cycler (gym), I weighed (~3:45 pm)   ...   196.2 lbs.!! As for last Saturday, this weight-determination was following about a 12-hour fast (overnight, sleeping in) and a late, light breakfast! It will take me the remainder of the week (until ~ next Friday or so) for my "routine" (evening) bodyweight to get back down to this level!   :-)

APRIL 2007

• Tuesday April 03, 2007: Well, as of this evening I am at 194.6 lbs.! That's 50 lbs. lost, overall. During the past week, I had been busy at work, attending a local, off-site conference last Monday and Tuesday. We also had out-of-town relatives stay with us one night last week, so my dieting had been somewhat less strict throughout much of last week, including skipping one night's exercise at the gym.

  I have decided that although I could rather easily continue to drop more weight, ~190 lbs. will be a good body weight for me for a number of reasons (health, appearance, etc.). Therefore, I have been slightly less strict with my diet over the past week or so, including having a couple of chocolates each day (a gift - I love 'em!) :-). So, I was pleasantly surprised to weigh only 194.6 lbs. this evening!

• Saturday April 07, 2007: Happy Happy Joy Joy! (lol) I just finished my early afternoon workout - 45' on the elliptical cycler, following a light (late) breakfast again - as on recent Saturdays! Despite eating more over the past week, I am still dropping weight! As of today (3:20 pm), I'm at 192.3 lbs! :-) Here is my current weight loss plot.

• Saturday April 14, 2007: Once again, I just finished my early afternoon workout - 45' on the elliptical cycler, following another late breakfast. As of today (2:50 pm), I'm at 191.9 lbs! :-)

• Saturday April 21, 2007: Once again, I just finished my early afternoon workout - 60' (we missed two workouts this week - a counseling session with Sam Allen, and Drag Bingo, last evening - "lots of munchies!") on the elliptical cycler, following another late breakfast. Today (3:50 pm), I'm holding steady at 192.4 lbs! :-)

• Saturday April 28, 2007: ... I just finished my early afternoon workout - 45 minutes on the elliptical cycler, following another late breakfast (home-made cinnamon roll, 2-1/2 strips bacon, scrambled eggs + hot sauce, orange juice, coffee, 3 chocolates). Today (3:00 pm), I'm at 190.3 lbs (&larr click for graph)! :-)

  This is notable for two reasons: (1) It is my new 'record' low weight (well, for at least 20-25 years! ;-), and (2) this week, we attended a 'festival' where we 'pigged out' on strawberries and short cake / lemon loaf / Cool Whip topping / ice cream, and chocolate fudge cake! It seems that even with relaxing my diet, considerably (i.e. enjoying myself once in a while), I'm maintaining my new bodyweight, and even continuing to lose a bit ... as I had hoped! :-) Now, time for some nachos + salsa!

MAY 2007

• Saturday May 05, 2007: ... I just finished my early afternoon workout - 45 minutes on the elliptical cycler, following another late breakfast (home-made blueberry muffin, 2-1/2 strips bacon, scrambled eggs + hot sauce, orange juice, coffee). Today (3:30 pm - as you can tell, I'm a creature of habit!), I remain exactly uchanged from last week, at 190.3 lbs (&larr click for graph)!

  It's very nice to be able to eat virtually what I want (within reason), and still maintain this weight! For example, yesterday at work we went out (unscheduled event) at lunchtime for sushi, and upon returning I also ate my trusty peanut butter and jam sandwich (I *love* these!), and a bit of extra light snacking last evening! ;-)

• Saturday May 12, 2007: ... Once again, I just finished my early afternoon workout - 45 minutes on the elliptical cycler, following another late breakfast (home-made cinnamon muffin, 2-1/2 strips bacon, scrambled eggs + hot sauce, orange juice, coffee). Today (3:00 pm), I actually lost two pounds - I'm now at 188.3 lbs. (&larr click for updated graph)!!

• Saturday May 19, 2007: An earlier start today &rarr a light breakfast (orange juice, home-made cinnamon roll, small bowl of granola plus skim milk) &rarr gym (60 min. on elliptical cycler while Sunshine was in her fitness class) &rarr weight (at 12:00 noon) = 190.0 lbs. (&larr click for updated graph)!

• Saturday May 26, 2007: A late (~ 1 pm) light breakfast (orange juice, home-made cinnamon roll, good-sized serving of scrambled eggs, 2-1/2 strips bacon, coffee) &rarr gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight (3:30 pm) = 191.3 lbs. (&larr click for updated graph)!

JUNE 2007

• Saturday June 02, 2007: Since we got off to such a late start this morning, we skipped breakfast and went right to lunch (~1:30 pm: orange juice; coffee; glass of water; large mixed tossed salad with "Newman's Own" Italian dressing; fried grilled cheese sandwich), then off to the gym (45' on the elliptical cycler) &rarr my weight (3:45 pm) 189.7 lbs. (&larr click for updated graph)! :-)

• Saturday June 09, 2007: Light breakfast, ~11:30 am: Small orange juice, coffee, small bowl of granola + skim milk, home-made cinnamon bun, glass of water + fiber &rarr gym (45' on the elliptical cycler) &rarr my weight (12:45 pm) = 190.0 lbs &larr click for updated graph. :-)

• Saturday June 16, 2007: Light breakfast, ~10:15 am: Small orange juice, small bowl of granola + skim milk, home-made cinnamon bun, small glass of water + fiber &rarr gym (60' on the elliptical cycler + 5' cool-down: 6.3 miles, 960 calories) &rarr my weight (11:45 pm) = 189.1 lbs &larr click for updated graph! :-)

• Sunday June 17, 2007: Just back from the gym, and in the light, I suddenly noticed how "veiny" - i.e vascularized - my arms have become, particularly the bicep and inner arm ... the veins are clearly visible, standing out "in relief!" This probably indicates that while my bodyweight has been holding steady at ~190 lbs., my body fat is slowly reducing?! Cool! :-)

• Saturday June 23, 2007: Hiya! We're just back from the gym (again - lol - daily, except we missed last Thursday evening, as we had our 14th counseling session with Sam Allen), following a very late, light breakfast (home-made whole-wheat brown sugar cinnamon roll; scrambled eggs plus 2-1/2 strips bacon; small orange juice; small water + dietary fiber; large coffee + half 'n half cream) > gym (45 min. on elliptical cycler: 5.0 miles; 760 calories; avg. heart rate ~147 bpm; 122 steps/min.) > weight at 2:40 pm = 188.2 lbs ( &larr click for updated graph)! :-)

• Saturday June 30, 2007: Hmmm.... I see that there are five Saturdays, this June. ... I've been fighting off a moderately bad cold this week (the first in recent memory), that I likely picked up somewhere late last week or last weekend! :-(   ... Early this afternoon I had a very late breakfast (large orange juice, a bit of water, large coffe plus half 'n half cream, home-made whole-wheat brown-sugar cinnamon roll, 2-1/2 strips bacon, scrambled eggs &rarr gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight at 2:40 pm = 187.0 lbs ( &larr click for updated graph)! :-)

JULY 2007

• Wednesday July 04, 2007: I'm still fighting my cold ... It's Independence Day today (last Sunday, July 01, was CANADA DAY, of course!). After a late breakfast and an early afternoon workout (45' on elliptical cycler), my weight today was 190.7 lbs.

• Saturday July 07, 2007: I *still* have my cold (nearly two weeks), but it's getting better, daily. :-( Sunshine and I had lunch yesterday (Indian buffet, Saffron Restaurant) with another couple who are planning a trip to Nova Scotia (we are both from there). ... Today, after another very late light breakfast (small orange juice; small water + dietary fiber; home-made brown-sugar whole wheat cinnamon roll; granola + nuts + milk) &rarr gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight at 2:40 pm was higher than in previous weeks, 192.0 lbs ( &larr click for updated graph).
  ... 191.2 lbs. the following afternoon (Sunday July 08, 2007).

• Mid-July, 2007: Sunshine and I returned to our birth province - Nova Scotia, Canada - primarily for a surprise 90th birthday party for her father (who turned 90 in January), but also to vistit (exclusively) with family, hers and mine (i.e., ours)! Since time was limited, and we have family throughout N.S., we really didn't have time to visit our many friends, nor the (coincident) Atlantic Jazz Festival and the Tall Ships Festival. On this trip, our diet and exercise were out the window, so I expected some variation in weight, but not the spike shown in my weight loss plot! Honestly, I don't see how it's physiologically possible (unless it's mostly fluid-based?) to gain ~14 lbs. over 11 days, then lose it all within 6 days following our return to N.C.! For example, on one day (Monday July 23 - Tuesday July 24), I lost 5.50 lbs.! This must be a fluid-based weight gain, or perhaps (?), gain / loss of internal fat ... I certainly didn't feel like I gained that much weight, and my clothes seemed to fit the same before / during / after our vacation! Ah well ... good for future reference, I suppose.

AUGUST 2007

• Saturday August 04, 2007: After a late, light breakfast (toast + marmalade; granola + skim milk; large water + fiber; orange juice; large coffee) and an early afternoon workout (45' on elliptical cycler), my weight today (2:35 pm) was 189.75 lbs ( &larr click for updated graph), which was virtually identical as last Saturday (July 28: 189.40 lbs.), despite one missed workout, and two nights of deserts - Sunshine's blueberry crumble + ice cream, during the past week!

• Saturday August 11, 2007: A light breakfast (small glass of orange juice, small glass of water + fiber, home-made brown sugar whole-wheat cinnamon roll, small bowl of granola + skim milk, large coffee + cream) &rarr Gym: 45' on elliptical cycler &rarr Weight (1:20 pm) = 188.55 lbs ( &larr click for updated graph)! :-)

• Saturday August 18, 2007: We actually *skipped* breakfast this morning, so that Sunshine could make the 10:30 aerobics class! Meanwhile, I did 45' on the elliptical cycler &rarr Weight (11:35 am) = 187.25 lbs ( &larr click for updated graph)! :-)

• Saturday August 25, 2007: A light, late breakfast (small glass of orange juice, small glass of water + fiber, home-made brown sugar whole-wheat cinnamon roll, small bowl of granola + skim milk, large coffee + cream) &rarr Gym: 45' on elliptical cycler &rarr Weight (2:40 pm) = 187.85 lbs ( &larr click for updated graph)! :-)

• Saturday September 01, 2007: A light, late breakfast (home-made brown sugar whole-wheat cinnamon roll, small bowl of granola + skim milk, large coffee + cream; *no:* orange juice, or water + fiber, today) &rarr Gym: 45' on elliptical cycler &rarr Weight (2:20 pm) = 192.3 lbs ( &larr click for updated graph)! :-) &larr Ack! I have been feeling somewhat bloated this week, and I can definitely feel the extra weight around abdomen! There *will* be some variation, week-to-week, but I need to clamp down a bit, I think!

  These are the changes to my diet last week, that *may* have resulted in my slight weight gain:

  1. Sunday August 26: I baked honey Challah bread &rarr picture;
  2. Monday August 27: I skipped my daily aerobic exercise this evening, due to laser on body hair;
  3. Tuesday August 28: I brought the last 2/3 of my second Challah loaf to work, to share with my co-workers;
  4. Thursday August 30: I bought my lunch at work last Thursday, instead of bringing it from home as I normally do; also, I had two pieces of cake with sugar icing at a co-workers' retirement party; and,
  5. Friday August 31: We went out for lunch (sushi).

SEPTEMBER 2007

• Saturday September 08, 2007: After a late, light breakfast (small orange juice; small water + fiber; home-made whole-wheat brown-sugar cinnamon roll; small bowl of granola + skim milk; large coffee) and an early afternoon workout (45' on elliptical cycler), my weight today (1:30 pm) was back down to 188.6 lbs ( &larr click for updated graph)! :-)

• Saturday September 15, 2007: After a very late, light breakfast (small orange juice; large water but *no* fiber; home-made whole-wheat brown-sugar cinnamon roll; small bowl of granola + lots' of skim milk; large coffee + cream) and an early afternoon workout (45' on elliptical cycler), my weight today (2:35 pm) was the lowest yet, at 186.45 lbs!! :-)   &larr Click, for updated graph! :-)

• Saturday September 22, 2007: A light, late breakfast: a small bowl of granola + skim milk; home-made whole-wheat brown sugar cinnamon roll; large coffee + cream; small glass of orange juice; small glass of water + fiber &rarr Gym (45' elliptical; moderately intense: just <1,000 cal/hr; ~750-760 calories, total, 4.98 miles; average heart rate = 154 (peak ~171 bpm, sustained) &rarr weight @ ~2:20 pm = 188.4 lbs. :-)   &larr Click, for updated graph. P.S. My resting pulse (for a *long* time), has been less than ~45 bpm! Also, Sunshine recently had her cholesterol, HDL / LDL, etc. tested &rarr they were exceptionally good! :-)

• Saturday September 29, 2007: A light, late breakfast: a small bowl of granola + skim milk; home-made whole-wheat brown sugar cinnamon roll; large coffee + cream; small glass of orange juice; small glass of water + fiber &rarr Gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight @ ~2:25 pm = 186.50 lbs. :-)   &larr Click, for updated graph.

OCTOBER 2007

• Saturday October 06, 2007: A light, late breakfast: Small bowl of granola + skim milk; home-made whole-wheat brown sugar cinnamon roll; large coffee + cream; small glass of orange juice; small glass of water + fiber &rarr Gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight @ ~3:15 pm = 189.80 lbs.

• Saturday October 13, 2007: A light, late breakfast: Small bowl of granola + skim milk; home-made whole-wheat brown sugar cinnamon roll; large coffee + cream; small glass of orange juice; small glass of water + fiber &rarr Gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight @ ~1:55 pm = 186.40 lbs.

• Saturday October 20, 2007: A light, late breakfast: Small bowl of granola + skim milk; home-made whole-wheat brown sugar cinnamon roll; large coffee + cream; small glass of orange juice; small glass of water + fiber &rarr Gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight @ ~2:15 pm = 186.0 lbs.

• Saturday October 27, 2007: A light, late breakfast: Small bowl of granola + skim milk; home-made whole-wheat brown sugar cinnamon roll; large coffee + cream; small glass of orange juice; small glass of water + fiber &rarr Gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight @ ~2:20 pm = 188.7 lbs.

  NOTE: I have been on 17β-estrogen (0.5 mg Vivelle-Dot patches) for 8 days now! &rarr will affect muscle, weight distribution (over time), as well as a propensity to gain weight! It's too early, yet, to notice any effects in this regard!

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2007

• Saturday November 03, 2007: A light, late breakfast: Small bowl of granola + skim milk; home-made whole-wheat brown sugar cinnamon roll; small coffee + cream; small glass of orange juice; small glass of water + fiber &rarr Gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight @ ~2:20 pm = 189.1 lbs. Note: I was eating slightly more (home-made multi-grain bread c. honey or peanut butter; ...) this week? Also, I have been on estrogen (0.5 mg Vivelle-Dot patches) for 15 days, now.

• Saturday November 10, 2007: A light, late breakfast: Small bowl of granola + skim milk; home-made whole-wheat brown sugar cinnamon roll; NO coffee; small glass of orange juice; small glass of water + fiber &rarr Gym (60' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight @ 11:45 pm = 187.6 lbs. NOTE: On estrogen (0.5 mg Vivelle-Dot patches) for 21 days now!

• Saturday November 17, 2007: A light, late breakfast: Small bowl of granola + skim milk; two slices of my home-made 7-grain bread, with marmalade; medium-sized coffee + cream; small glass of orange juice; small glass of water + fiber &rarr Gym (60' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight @ ~11:40 pm = 185.9 lbs, my lowest weight in ~20+ years! NOTE: On estrogen (0.5 mg Vivelle-Dot patches) for 28 days now!

• Saturday November 24, 2007: We missed two workouts this week: Dana - laser - on Monday; the gym was closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving. Also, Sunshine asked me to make Challah bread for Thanksgiving (mix of ~75% unbleached white / 25% whole wheat flour), that we've been eating, *a lot!*

  Today: A light, late breakfast: Small bowl of granola + skim milk; two large pieces of my Challah bread + butter; medium-sized coffee + cream; *no* orange juice; *no* water + fiber &rarr Gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight @ ~2:05 pm = 189.7 lbs, actually better than I thought it would be. NOTE: On estrogen (0.5 mg Vivelle-Dot patches) for 35 days now!

• Sunday November 25, 2007: Brunch (large omelet + spiced sausage; large coffee + cream; small orange juice; small glass of water + fiber) &rarr Gym (50' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight @ ~4:30 pm = 189.3 lbs.

• Thursday November 29, 2007: 9:00 pm, after 45' on elliptical cycler + 5' cool-down. (Gym is closed for renovations Fri through Sunday.) 187.75 lbs.

• Saturday December 08, 2007: Another rough week regarding diet and exercise: Our gym was closed for three days last weeek (Fri.-Sun.) for renovations, plus we went out for dinner one evening last week with colleagues from work - we had a visiting guest - so our diet was out the window that evening.

  Nevertheless, I was once again surprised that my weight today was 189.1 lbs (3:10 pm, after 45" on the elliptical cycles, and after a *full* brunch that included two pieces of multigrain toast (mine - I have been baking 7-grain bread), and a large omelet!).

• Saturday December 22, 2007: A late brunch (two pieces of home-made multi-grain toast, small glass of water + fiber; small orange juice; small bowl of granola + skim milk; large coffee + cream) &rarr gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr 3:30 pm: 189.0 lbs.

• Saturday December 29, 2007: A late brunch (small home-made whole-wheat brown sugar cinnamon roll; small glass of water + fiber; small orange juice; small bowl of granola + skim milk; large coffee + cream) &rarr gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr 2:20 pm: 189.0 lbs.
  

JANUARY - APRIL 2008

• *Sunday* January 06, 2008: Once again, our schedule lately (holidays, etc.) has been disruptive regarding diet and exercise. We missed our Friday evening and Saturday workouts, as we needed to do some shopping, etc. in preparation for our Charlotte Gender Alliance meeting trip, yesterday!

  Today: A late brunch (orange juice; water + fiber; large omelet + sausage; two home-made brown-sugar whole-wheat cinnamon rolls; large coffee + cream ) &rarr gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr 4:50 pm: 190.75 lbs!

  The rest of this month is going to be "bad" as well, as we have a house guest arriving next week, for 10 days, from Vancouver, British Columbia!

• *Wednesday* January 09, 2008: After light "breakfast" (actually just some honey, a few mouthfuls of raisins, granola, a small glass each of orange juice and water) &rarr > Gym: elliptical cycler (50' + 5' cool-down) &rarr I couldn't quite "zero" the scale, as the beam was *slightly* too heavy even at zero, I therefore guessed and subtracted ~0.25 lbs &rarr Weight @ 10:30 am = ~186.75 lbs

• Saturday January 12, 2008: Skipped breakfast, today (we don't like to do this, but we were running late: Sunshine wanted to attend the 10:30 am aerobics class) &rarr gym (60' on elliptical cycler + 5' cool-down; ~5.4 miles?; ~840 cal.) &rarr weight @ 11:45 am = 187.25 lbs! :-)

• Saturday, January 26, 2008: NOTE: We have had a house guest (Joe, from Vancouver, B.C.) visiting us (Jan. 14 - 22, 2008), which "interrupted" our diet & exercise routine &rarr too much food, too little exercise! It was absolutely *wonderful* having him visit us, however!!

  Today we are back to our typical routine: A light breakfast (granola, etc.) &rarr gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight @ 1:45 pm = 192.7 lbs. 192.7 lbs (Note: My weight ~ mid-week was ~196-197 lbs?! As for our trip to Nova Scotia ~ mid-July 2007 where my weight also spiked, then dropped quickly, this has to be due - in part - to fluid retention?

• Saturday February 02, 2008:A late, light breakfast (home-made blueberry muffin; left-over muffin batter; small bowl of granola + skim milk; small glass of water; small glass of water + fiber; large coffee + cream) &rarr gym: CLOSED due to power outage (sign on door) until 4:00 pm! &rarr Shopping &rarr Late lunch (tossed salad + vinagarette dressing; piece of home-made milti-grain bread + spread; small water + fiber; large coffee + cream) &rarr Gym &rarr 45' elliptical cycler &rarr weight @ 5:45 pm = 190.2 lbs. :-)

• Saturday February 09, 2008: A late, light breakfast (2 slices of home-made multi-grain toast with apricot-apple spread; small bowl of granola+ skim milk; small glass of water + fiber; large coffee + cream; &rarr mid-afternoon: large coffee + cream; banana) &rarr gym: 45' on elliptical cycler &rarr weight @ 3:40 pm = 190.75 lbs.

• Saturday February 16, 2008: Light, late breakfast: Small bowl of granola + skim milk; home-made whole-wheat brown sugar cinnamon roll; large coffee + cream; small glass of orange juice; small glass of water + fiber → Gym (45' on elliptical cycler) → weight @ ~2:10 pm = 192.75 lbs.

  Note: I have been on transdermal estrogen for just over 4 months now (17 weeks). Last week, at my 4-month check-up, my T/E2 ratio went from ~20.5:1 (470 ng/dL : 23 pg / mL) to 1.6:1 (110 ng/dL : 67 pg/mL)! &rarr My testosterone dropped 4.3-fold (to 110 ng/dL; normal male range 241-827), while my estradiol increased 2.9-fold (to 67 pg/mL; normal male range 0-53; mid-cycle female 150-528, cycle range 19-528) &rarr Wow!!   :-)

• Sunday February 1, 2008: Late brunch: Home-made poppy seed muffin; small glass of water + fiber; small glass of orange juice; large coffee + cream; left-over muffin batter; large omelet &rarr gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight at ~3:30 pm = 191.20 lbs.

• Saturday February 23, 2008: NOTE: My birthday was earlier this week, and I had a small portion of my chocolate birthday cheescake every evening, from Tuesday - Friday!

  Today: Late, light breakfast (home-made miltigrain toast + butter & apricot-apple spread muffin; medium portion-sized bowl of granola+ skim milk; large glass of water; large coffee + cream) &rarr gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight (3:30 pm) = 193.7 lbs.

• Saturday March 01, 2008: Light breakfast, ~11:00 am: Small bowl of granola + skim milk; home-made whole-wheat brown sugar cinnamon roll; large coffee + cream &rarr Gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight @ ~2:00 pm = 191.1 lbs.

• Tuesday March 11, 2008: We were away (Nova Scotia, March 04-11, 2008) for a funeral - no time for diet or exercise. Immediately upon return, I had to drive to a "retreat" (Mar. 11); this evening, after 45' on the elliptical cycler, my weight was ~200 lbs. A similar weight gain (more extreme - July 2007 trip to N.S.), also resulted in increased weight, probably due to fluid retention and partial constipation (Ibuprofen tablets)?!

• Saturday March 15, 2008: Light late breakfast: 3 Home-made biscuits with margarine; 1-¹/₂ large glasses of water; small glass of water + fiber; large coffee + cream; small bowl of granola + skim milk &rarr gym (45' on elliptical cycler) &rarr weight @ 3:30 pm = 194.2 lbs.

• Saturday March 22, 2008: A very late breakfast: Large water, small galss of water + fiber, small glass of orange juice, two home-made raisin-containing hot-cross buns (no sugar topping but buttered with margarine), small bowl of granola with skim milk, large coffe + cream &rarr gym (45' elliptical cycler &rarr weight (4:00 pm) = 191.2 lbs - almost back to my desired 'maintenance' weight (of just under 190 lbs.)! :-).

• Saturday March 29, 2008: Late breakfast: Two home-made raisin hot-cross buns (no sugar topping but buttered c. margarine); small bowl of granola with skim milk, large coffee + cream &rarr gym (45' elliptical cycler) &rarr weight (1:20 pm) = 190.25 lbs.

• Saturday April 05, 2008: Late breakfast: Slice of home-made multigrain bread with margarine, fruit spread; small bowl of granola with skim milk, small glass of water plus fiber; small glass of orange juice; large coffee + cream &rarr gym (45' elliptical cycler) &rarr weight (1:20 pm) = 192.3 lbs.

• Saturday April 12, 2008: Late breakfast: Slice of home-made multigrain bread with margarine, apricot-apple fruit spread; small bowl of granola with skim milk, small glass of water plus fiber; small glass of orange juice; large coffee + cream &rarr gym (45' elliptical cycler) &rarr weight (12:45 pm) = 189.75 lbs.

• Saturday April 19, 2008: Late breakfast: Slice of home-made multigrain bread with some margarine + apricot-apple fruit spread; small home-made whole-wheat cinnamon roll; small bowl of granola with skim milk, small glass of water plus fiber; small glass of orange juice; large coffee + cream &rarr gym (45' elliptical cycler &rarr weight (2:30 pm) = 191.75 lbs.

• Saturday April 26, 2008: Late breakfast: Small home-made brown-sugar whole-wheat cinnamon roll; small bowl of granola with skim milk, small glass of water plus fiber; small glass of orange juice; large coffee + cream &rarr gym (45' elliptical cycler &rarr weight (2:20 pm) = 190.75 lbs.

• Saturday May 03, 2008: Late breakfast: Small home-made brown-sugar whole-wheat cinnamon roll; small bowl of granola with skim milk, small glass of water plus fiber; small glass of orange juice; large coffee + cream &rarr gym (45' elliptical cycler &rarr weight (12:45 pm) = 193.75 lbs.

• Saturday May 10, 2008: Late breakfast: Small home-made brown-sugar whole-wheat cinnamon roll; small bowl of granola with skim milk, small glass of water plus fiber; small glass of orange juice; large coffee + cream &rarr gym (45' elliptical cycler &rarr weight (2:45 pm) = 193.75 lbs.